diff --git a/clanModules/matrix-synapse/default.nix b/clanModules/matrix-synapse/default.nix
index 3c131785..d2efd284 100644
--- a/clanModules/matrix-synapse/default.nix
+++ b/clanModules/matrix-synapse/default.nix
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ in
           sleep 1
         done
         if ! psql -tAc "SELECT 1 FROM pg_database WHERE datname = 'matrix-synapse'" | grep -q 1; then
-          psql -c "CREATE DATABASE \"matrix-synapse\" TEMPLATE template0 LC_COLLATE = 'C' LC_CTYPE = 'C'"
+          psql -c "CREATE DATABASE \"matrix-synapse\" TEMPLATE template0 LC_COLLATE = 'C' LC_CTYPE = 'C' ENCODING = 'UTF8'"
         fi
         # create user if it doesn't exist and make it owner of the database
         if ! psql -tAc "SELECT 1 FROM pg_user WHERE usename = 'matrix-synapse'" | grep -q 1; then